From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like “Santiago” was simply a rebellious kid. At Second Story for Teens in Crisis, however, counselors worked on getting to know him and learning why he was acting out. He opened up and the counselors were there for him, helping him rewrite the narrative for his future. When Timothy began attending Second Story's Safe Youth Project he was struggling in school. The program coordinator worked to tutor him in the subjects he found especially challenging, and at the end of the school year he won an award for his hard work and progress! When Marley was kicked out of her home she was almost relieved -- it was her escape from years of abuse. She quickly faced new challenges on her own, though: poverty, anxiety, and homelessness. Now, Marley is a high school graduate. Learn how Second Story helped her get there. When “Robert” graduated from Second Story for Homeless Youth he felt grateful for the counseling, guidance and help to find a stable place to live. But something stood out even more: he was grateful to know that Second Story staff believed in him, something he hadn’t felt before from the people in his life. Second Story transforms the lives of children, youth and their families by providing safe havens and opportunities for them to grow and thrive. Second Story transforms the lives of children and youth, helping them stay safe, make positive decisions, achieve educational success, and overcome personal crises. My guest, Abigail Brougher, Second Story Communications Director, shares the power of Second Story through a podcast with one of the many success stories. Stay close and be inspired.

This month, Frankly Speaking shines its spotlight once more on phenomenal women, exploring how we navigate our shared journeys, weathering both rainbows and storms with unwavering courage and resolve. We are a journey unfolding, a process ever in motion. Even in stillness, we move—loving, serving, nurturing, encouraging, empowering. We are love in action. Yet sometimes, we find ourselves caught between the comfort of what was and the promise of what could be, and we wonder: “Am I enough?” By the way, the right answer is a resounding YES! For a woman to truly see that she is more than a mother, more than a wife, more than her paycheck or her profession, she must first recognize her own worth. She must dare to test her boundaries, define herself on her own terms, and set her own expectations. She must become her own encourager, her own nurturer, and be brave enough to risk disapproval. She must be willing to break free from the labels and limits others try to impose. This week’s conversation introduces a woman who has learned to walk confidently in her worth—as a wife, mother to three lively daughters, caretaker of four pets, and the managing physician of her neonatology practice. Her story is told with warmth and joy, though we know challenges are woven into her reality. Still, she has discovered how to keep her circumstances from defining her. Meet Dr. Tiffany Simpson. Listen and be inspired—it is like sharing coffee with a friend.    

So, this week, we begin with a twist to create our common thought space for today. In the words of Isabel Wilkerson in her interview with Krista Tippet on NPR entitled The Heart is the Last Frontier. And I Quote, "With all due respect, I can't want to!" For some, this is the best of times. For others, it feels like the worst of times. For the wise, it is seen as one season in history. For others, it feels like an impending eternity of uncertainty. Words like 'us' and 'them' no longer define diversity but decree exclusion. Anger has become the overcoat that keeps our raw fear warm. Our country is like an ancient house. I love old houses. But old houses need a lot of work. And the work is never done. And just when you think you've finished one renovation, it's time to do something else. Something else has gone wrong. Sometimes, may need to look down in the basement to find the problem. We may need to go down into our metaphorical basement and see the historical causes and effects of things that need change. Only then can we make humanity-saving decisions. We must then intentionally add radical empathy to our solution. "Empathy is not pity or sympathy in which you look down on someone and feel sorry for them. With sympathy, you may be looking across at someone and feeling bad for them. However, empathy means getting inside of them, understanding their reality, and looking at their situation and saying not, "What would I do if I were in their position?" but, "What are they doing? Why are they doing what they're doing from the perspective of what they have endured?" Today, we are telling the story of one of Fairfax County, Virginia's organizations that has decided that it can want to… An organization that embodies empathy and hope! We are going to walk through the doors of Britepaths of Fairfax County. Britepaths is dedicated to stabilizing clients facing economic crises, fostering personal empowerment, and supporting the needs of children! This week's storyteller is Mr.David Joyner, the Development Manager of Britepaths of Fairfax County, Virginia. Be inspired, learn things, and share.

We continue discussing with Michelle Petties., her book, and the mentoring program about Leaving Large. "Life will work for me when I accept … The labels placed on me don’t always fit. With its structures, expectations, and divisions, society has fostered certain ideas about women that are not always flattering. Many people believe that strong women are not feminine and that assertive women cannot be trusted. My all-time favorite is that women who exhibit any degree of clarity about who they are and what they want are dangerous. Do not forget that a bossy woman is domineering, making her the B word. We won’t bother to mention the myths that women are not as smart as men or that they cannot handle money as well. The point is some people believe these things about women, and some of these are women! Labels define. Often, labels set up expectations. Labels prescribe how much, how little, and sometimes how long a thing can be used. Labels are descriptive. Labels are protective, and labels can be removed. It just may be that the time has come to take the labels off women. It is probably more accurate to say it is time for women to take the labels off themselves. For a woman to realize that she is more than a mother, more than a wife, more than what she earns or what she does to earn a living, she must know her worth. This means she must test herself and her limits. A woman must learn to describe herself and establish her expectations for herself. She must encourage herself, support and nurture herself, be willing to be disliked, and violate the descriptions and confines imposed on her.  My guest is doing the work today, paying the dues, and gracefully managing the rewards. The first inscription in her new book is a quote from Maya Angelou: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” My guest personifies a butterfly and has come this week to share her journey. Her story will amaze, encourage, and excite anyone who has ever felt left out, left behind, or left over. Listen, be inspired, and share.

I quote “Life will work for me when I accept … The labels placed on me don’t always fit. Society, with all its rules and boundaries, has shaped some less-than-flattering beliefs about women. There are those who say strong women lack femininity or that assertive women cannot be trusted. My personal favorite misconception is that a woman who knows herself and her desires is somehow dangerous. And of course, the old trope that a bossy woman is domineering, earning her that infamous B word. We could go on about the tired myths that women are less intelligent or less capable with money. The truth is, some people still hold these beliefs about women—and sometimes, those people are women themselves. Labels define. Often, labels set up expectations. Labels prescribe how much, how little, and sometimes how long a thing can be used. Labels are descriptive. Labels are protective, and labels can be removed. The time has come to take the labels off women. It is probably more accurate to say it is time for women to take the labels off themselves”. –Iyanya Vanzant, Until Today 2000 Today’s guest is putting in the work, earning her stripes, and embracing the rewards with grace. Her new book opens with a powerful Maya Angelou quote: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has undergone to achieve that beauty.” This week, my guest arrives like a butterfly in full bloom, ready to share her remarkable journey. Her story promises to amaze, uplift, and ignite hope in anyone who has ever felt overlooked or left behind. Let yourself be inspired—and pass that inspiration on.

“FIRST, DON’T CALL THEM MILLENNIALS Wait, what? Let me explain. A study from Pew Research found that only 40 percent of millennials even identify with the word “millennial,” compared to nearly 80 percent of those aged 51 to 69 who consider themselves part of the Baby Boomer generation. I was actually surprised that almost half of millennials claimed to be comfortable with their generational moniker since I find that most of the young people, I meet prefer that their generation not have a title at all. I also find this generation to be more focused on describing themselves as individuals (hence the rise in “personal branding” as a career skill) than as members of a massive group. This begs the question: what should we call this cohort if not the M-word? Clearly, I do use the term millennial because it’s helpful to have some sort of terminology, but I use it in a respectful fashion, realizing that most millennials don’t care for any group name at all. The bottom line is that it’s important for managers, marketers, and recruiters to understand that using the word as a descriptor (as in “millennial-focused office”) will rarely come off positively. Young professionals tell me they prefer terms like “emerging professionals” or “next-generation” when referring to their age group in the workplace.”[1] Join me for a wonderful discussion with a millennial who goes against all stereotypes. She was raised in a family where she absorbed the values of three generations and uses them to her advantage as she exceeds expectations navigating a multigenerational workplace.  It's refreshing! Join me. [1] https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay/millennial-life-how-young-adulthood-today-compares-with-prior-generations/

This month, we dive into the theme of “Stories We Grew Up with” and explore how the tales we heard and the ones we whispered to ourselves have shaped who we are. These stories have colored our actions, our hopes, and the way we see the world. In the end, I believe each of us is not just a storyteller, but a living story. Author  David Denborough, Ph.D. writes, “Who we are and what we do are influenced by the stories that we tell ourselves…There are many events in our lives, but only some become part of the storylines of our identities. Whatever storyline we have about our lives makes a difference in who we are and how we act.”#_ftn1 Meet my guest, Ashwani Jain, whose family’s words—reminding him that he was enough, that he was loved, and that he was a survivor—became the foundation of his own story. These beliefs carried him through childhood cancer and even his first job rejection from the White House. (Yes, there was a second chance!) His spirit and journey are sure to inspire you. Tune in and let yourself be inspired! #_ftnref1 https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-power-of-our-personal-stories/      

Time and again, I have seen that the most precious gifts we can offer children are the sturdy roots of responsibility and the soaring wings of independence. They truly are remarkable! No matter if I wore the hat of educator, author, speaker, talk show host, business owner, or survivor, one question has always echoed in my heart: What about the children? Today, we will explore the challenges we face together, focusing on Generation Z. With Gen Z representing nearly a fifth of the US population, their voices and struggles cannot be overlooked. Alarming statistics reveal that more than half of Gen Z have faced periods of depression, making their mental health a pressing concern for us all. By the end of this show, I hope you will find a clearer answer to this: What time is it on Life’s Clock for Generation Z’s well-being, achievement, and joy? If we can grasp this, we can help nurture a legacy of worth and purpose for the generations yet to come. We are all in this together. Be enlightened and share. . .  

"Jimmy, Ana's boyfriend, says, "You're not fat. You're beautiful." She is both. "Real Women Have Curves" doesn't argue that Ana is beautiful on the "inside," like the Gwyneth Paltrow character in "Shallow Hal," but that she is beautiful inside and out--love handles, big boobs, round cheeks, and all. "Turn the lights on," she shyly tells Jimmy. "I want you to see me. See, this is what I look like." Ana has learned to accept herself. It is more than her mother can do. There have been several movies recently about the second generation of children of immigrants--Indian, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese--and they follow broad outlines borrowed from life. The parents try to enforce the conditions of their homeland on the kids, who are becoming Americanized at blinding speed. While Carmen is insisting on her daughter's virginity, Ana is buying condoms. She insists on a view of her life that is not her parents'. That includes college. For young women depressed because they don't look like skinny models, this film is a breath of common sense and fresh air. "Real Women Have Curves" is a reminder of how rarely the women in the movies are real. After the almost excruciating attention paid to the world-class beauties in a movie like "White Oleander" (a film in which the more the women suffered, the better they looked), how refreshing to see America Ferrera light up the room with a smile from the heart." -- Roger Ebert, movie critic The universal themes of intergenerational family expectations, the road to self-worthiness, courage, and love delivered a healthy dose of hope, no matter what your mirror shows you. I loved it!

"An entrepreneur herself and leading expert on people 50 years and older, Kerry Hannon draws powerful lessons from the mid-life entrepreneurs she profiles. Her enthusiasm about the opportunities is inspiring, her cautions are practical and refreshing, and her insights into later life entrepreneurship ars spot-on. I love this book." -Chris Farrell, author of Purpose and Paycheck. Beyond being a nationally recognized expert and strategist on career transitions, personal finance, and retirement, I enjoyed learning about Kerry's family and life experiences that helped to inform the WHO and WHY she is today. Horses play an exciting role. Listen, get more innovative, and be inspired.